Down syndrome achievement nonprofit taking mission digital, amid COVID-19 pandemic

A local nonprofit organization for people with Down Syndrome is working hard to bring its participants some sort of normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

YOU’RE WATCHING A LOCALNONPROFIT FOR PEOPLE WITH DOSYNDROME IS WORKING HARD TOBRING BACK A SENSE OF NORMALCY,DURING THESE ANXIOUS TIMES.JESSICA ALPERN SPOKE ONE-ON-ONEWITH THE CO-FOUNDER OF GIGI’PLAYHOUSE FORT MYERS... ON WHATPARENTS CAN DO, AND HOW YOU CANHELP.THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HASAFFECTED GIGI’S PLAYHOUSE FORTMYERS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT THEORGANIZATION HAS HAD TO SHUT ITSDOORS.SOT:Samantha Nunez, Gigi’s PlayhouseFort Myers Co-Founder and BoardMember1:00...Our kids and adults reallythrive on consistencyTHE ORGANIZATION OFFERS AVARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO KIDS ANDADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME.FROM LITERACY AND MATH TUTORING,TO THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS FORYOUNG KIDS, AND ADULT PROGRAMSLIKE WORKOUTS AND A COOKING CLUBTO PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS.2:20...we also have fantasticfriends that meet every month anopportunity to get together andsocialize.

So educational,therapeutic, and social aspectstoo that we’ve had to cancel.ITS FORCED THEM TO GET CREATIVETO BRING SOME SORT OF NORMALCYTO ITS PARTICIPANTS.STARTING WITH GIGI’S AT HOME,WHICH ALLOWS FAMILIES TO ATTENDGIGI’S PURPOSEFUL PROGRAMS*VIRTUALLY.4:38Outside of that we’re looking atdoing our math and literacytutoring virtually.

We alreadyhave some speech virtual classesgoing on.IT’S EVEN WORKING ON A VIRTUALDANCE PARTY.AS THE MOTHER OF A CHILD WITHDOWN SYNDROME, CO-FOUNDER ANDBOARD MEMBER SAMANTHA NUNEZ SAYSTHE RESPONSE SO FAR HAS BEENHEARTWARMING.*5:05It’s been heartwarming to saythe least that we’ve all beenable to come together, ourfamilies, they know that we’reat least here and that’s the bigpart about Gigis is we are afamily.BUTT TO5:31We know that we’re in thistogether even through COVID-19that’s the same concept.FOR PARENTS OF KIDS WITH DOWNSYNDROME... ESPECIALLY WHO ARENOW HAVING TO ADAPT TO DISTANCELEARNING... NUNEZ SAYS IT’S ALLABOUT ROUTINE.6:44...My biggest recommendation isto try and find some normalcy,balance, consistency on what theday is going to look like.AND FACETIME IS YOUR FRIEND!7:30It’s been difficult for Sophiaand a couple of her classmateswho also have down syndromeBUTT TO7:45Just trying to put it insimplest terms for her tounderstand why she can’t go toschool and see her friends,that’s been difficult so beedoing a lot of FaceTime withfriends.THE ORGANIZATION WAS ALSO FORCEDTO POSTPONE ITS ANNUAL GALA,WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS PASTWEEKEND.THE NONPROFIT RELIES *SOLELY ONDONATIONS AND THIS IS ITSBIGGEST FUNDRAISER.10:00Through all of this, whether itbe Gigi’s or another nonprofitwhatever it is that comes toyour heart just remind yourselfthat we’re still here.BUTT TO10:25Trying to keep our doors open,just like all these other smallbusinesses.IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE AND HELPGIGI’S GET THROUGH THIS TOUGHTIME, HEAD TO FOX4NOW.